Cota

I want to tour the oregon coast this summer. I live in Beaverton and plan to ride out to Fort Stevens/Astoria and then down the coast to Brookings. But, then what? I've got family in Eugene I'd like to visit on the way back.

I'd like to make the return trip inland. But if that's a hassle, I'm fine doubling back up the coast a ways. So, what are my options to reach Eugene in one piece?

Thanks,

Cota

PomPilot

Well, one option would be to head inland to Grants Pass. Then connect to Greyhound up to Eugene, unless you want to ride north on I-5. From Eugene, you can take Amtrak back to Portland, or you can ride the Willamette Valley Greenway north.

mtnbud

That will be a fun trip.

Lots of options! I'm going to around the area in the middle of June. We're heading over to I5 from Powers using the Tour De Fronds route.

Heading back through Agness is an option. I hear that's very scenic. There's a motorcycle website that has helped me greatly on planning bicycle tours it's https://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepa...?page=statemap. Here's a route through Agness: https://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=fr23

When are you leaving and how many days are you planning on? How many miles a day? I know some neat route you could tie into your trip if you have enough days.

Cota

I should clarify, I intend to ride all the way back.

And I was planning on leaving early august. I don't have to be home at any particular time. I can be gone all month, or more. I'm not the strongest rider and I tend to over pack , so I'd like to keep it under 60 miles a day.

This will be my biggest tour. I've done the willamette valley scenic bikeway and back, one trip out to Fort Stevens for a few nights, and numerous overnighters.

I've got ODOT bike maps to Astoria, and ACA maps of the coast. No electronics. And no idea how to get back to Eugene .

-Cota

mtnbud

There's no way to go from Brookings directly to I5. You'll either need to head a little further South into California and head over on US 199, or head North a little ways and then cut over. There are numerous routes to cut over from Gold Beach North. It is possible to head North and stick fairly close to the I5 corridor, but it's a bit tricky. There will be places you will need to veer away from I5. Getting from the coast to the I5 corridor will involve some fairly impressive elevation gain.

I've ridden along the I5 corridor from Canyonville to Cottage Grove. Feel free to PM me if you want any info from me.

Jeff Wills

Better be careful- you may run into the thundering herds of Cycle Oregon: https://www.cycleoregon.com/week-ride/route/
On the other hand, that map points to a couple ways to get back inland from the southern Oregon coast.

mtnbud

How funny is that! Looks like they don't leave until September 10th.

PomPilot

One thing you have to remember about the Bear Camp road complex. It is very easy to take a wrong spur and end up miles from where you want to be. Also, cell phone contact is spotty at best. Satellite phones are a little better, but not much.

Cota

Alright, let me try it this way.

I'm not yet adventurous enough to try the Agness route. I asked one of the guys at the bike shop about it, and he said to bring bear spray and a water purifier. I don't want to be that guy on the news who's body they find 6 months from now lost in the wilderness and nibbled on by bears.

Also, I checked out the Cycle Oregon route. Not keen on the 85 mile second day.

So how about these main highways:

1. Bandon to Roseburg via HWY 42?

2. Reedsport to Cottag Grove via HWY 38?

3. Florence to Eugene via HWY 126?

Are any of these viable? My Oregon bike map shows option 2, HWY 38 with the least traffic. I'd prefer the southern most route, option 1. At this point, my criteria is just getting back to the valley/I-5 corridor in one piece. Even if it's not the most scenic route. And I'd like (need?) to split the trip into two days, so a campground along the way would be handy.

Thanks!

-Cota

TheHen

First things first: I wouldn't worry overmuch about the bears in the coast range of OR. There's something about our hunters that keep the bears from being too sociable with humans. Yell loudly and they run away.

I don't know too much about your option #1 except that the Coos County drivers are not generally the most hospitable to cyclists. I wouldn't take that route. Options #2 and #3 can be improved on immensely. That means that both of those highways have regular motor vehicle crashes and deaths from people overdriving their vision and limited shoulders. Don't use those roads.

From Reedsport, go a few miles north towards Gardner and head east on Lower Smith River Rd. You can pretty much follow the pavement and signs to get to Eugene. The road changes names a few times, just don't take North Fork Smith River Rd., West Fork Smith River Rd or Upper Smith River Rd. Do take South Sister Rd (just a name change), Siuslaw River Rd (Big map at this junction), Wolf Creek Rd. At the east end of Wolf Creek Rd you go a couple hundred meters north and turn east on Crow Rd and Eugene is ten miles away. Total distance from the campground in Reedsport to central Eugene is about 90 miles. There are two main hills (Oxbow summit at the top of South Sister and Timberline at the top of Wolf Creek), plus you will be going upstream all day long. However, there is abundant camping along the Smith River (better yet, go up a side road). You should bring a water filter if you are going to make it a two day trip. There are no services once you are ten miles in. Once you are twenty miles in, you may not see another person for fifty miles. Most of this area has no cell phone coverage. I highly recommend this route as the best way to get between Eugene and the coast by bike.

As far as coming in from Florence, the fourteen miles from Florence to Mapleton on hwy126 have a wide shoulder and can be okay to ride when traffic is light. DO NOT CONTINUE ON HWY 126 EAST OF MAPLETON! This climb ends in a nearly shoulderless tunnel with you still going uphill. Most folks who cycle between Eugene and Florence take hwy36 out of Mapleton (Cycle Oregon took this road westbound several years ago.) Hwy36 has limited shoulder, but also limited traffic. I think most folks turn off Hwy 36 at Poodle Creek, jog across hwy126 to Noti then ride up Vaugn Rd. to Territorial and then either jog south on Territorial to Crow Rd or continue onto Central to Petzold to Crow Rd. Shifty will know more about this route than I do.

If you want to go to Florence and don't mind a bit of gravel, I have another recommendation. About ten miles east of Mapleton on Hwy36, turn south at Swiss Home. Follow the river and enjoy a bit of gravel (nine miles), then some pavement (2 miles) then gravel again on Richardson Upriver (3 miles). Cross the river on the Wildcat Covered Bridge and you are on Siuslaw River Rd. Two miles to Whiteaker Campground, Sixteen miles to Clay Creek Campground, Twenty-six miles to Wolf Creek Rd (see above). The only junction in the first twenty-six miles of Siuslaw River Rd is at the top of a small hill at mile ten. Bear left to stay on Siuslaw River Rd. (Right would take you to West Fork Smith River which leads to Smith River Rd.)

If any of this intrigues you, let me know and I'll get you a proper map (with elevation profiles), including a photo of the one at the junction of the Smith River route with the Siuslaw.

moleman76

The Smith River route is a good one.

For something entirely different, if you can get to Grants Pass (199 is not bike-friendly in some places), head over toward Medford, up past Crater Lake on the west side of the Park (if your legs are feeling strong, do the loop around the lake after stowing your bags to cut down on weight for the climbs), head over to 97 (long, long long straight downhill), up to Crescent, take the loop through the lakes to the west of 97, end up in Bend / Sisters, go over Old McKenzie pass and west to Eugene.

Cota

TheHen,

Thanks for taking the time to write that up! I checked out all those routes in google. I'm interested in the Smith River route. I'd definately be keen on, and grateful for, maps or other information you want to share on that route.

Thanks friend.

And Moleman76, that sounds like a trip for next year. I've a cousin in Bend that I hardly ever see. I'd love to pedal into Bend and see her and my favorite brewery - The Deschutes Brewery! Black Butte Porter, yum.

Thanks,

-Cota

B. Carfree

Cota,
If you can handle a bass-ackwards route, here's the Smith River route from Eugene to Reedsport (actually, Tugman State Park).

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/31073976

It's mostly flat until the junction with Upper Smith River Rd where South Sister starts getting a bit of slope going. Of course you do have those two climbs. If you camp somewhere along the Smith River you can do the climbs in the morning so the sun isn't beating down on you as you climb late in the day. Of course that assumes we will eventually see some sun this summer.

TheHen

This is the map that is at the Alma Site (junction of Oxbow Rd and Siuslaw River Rd, 30 miles from Eugene. Notice that on this map north is down.




Also, here's a prior discussion of this route which includes more detailed directions (although the group was heading south on U.S.101 and you will be approaching heading northbound). https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...9#post11373153

Cota

That's awesome, thanks you guys!

If I've transposed google maps onto that wooden map correctly, it looks like Twin Sisters campground is about 40 miles from the coast 101 hwy. Nice half way point if it's accessible.

That wooden map makes it look so easy compared to mapmyride

-Cota

pwdeegan

it's not a difficult ride, in that there is very little to no traffic, and it is quite beautiful. probably my first or second favorite ride in the area, depending on how i feel. just be sure to bring enough water+food, as there are no services and typically little to no mobile phone reception for most of that ride. during the summer, and especially the weekends, there are numerous campers and RVers along the South Sister/Smith River Rd portions.

happy riding and tailwinds!